Dual Finger Elastomeric Wrap

ABSTRACT

An elastomeric wrap for restricting two fingers during flexion and extension. The wrap covers the proximal phalanx and interphalangeal (PIP) knuckle and part of the middle phalanx of both fingers. Instructional text and directional graphics is silk screened onto the wrap. Fastening is constructed of two opposing strips of hook-and-loop fabric. Buttonhole and straight stitching techniques is used to secure and finish fabric. To form the wrap: First, face the palm upward, second, insert the ring or middle (plus index for right hand) finger into the anchor loop section, third, wrap the elongated section over then under the adjacent left finger, fourth, join one of the two affixed opposing hook-and-loop fabric strips on the elongated section with the other hook-and-loop fabric strip on the anchor loop section to fasten. The wrap is constructed of a strip of elastomeric fabric.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a finger wrap, and more particularly to anelastomeric finger wrap which covers the proximal phalanx andinterphalangeal (PIP) knuckle and part of the middle phalanx of solelytwo fingers during flexion and extension.

BACKGROUND ART

During recreational activities such as playing a string instrument, abeginner may experience difficulty with finger control. Basketballathletes may also sprain fingers during activities and resort tobuddy-taping fingers with cloth tape during the healing process.

The current method of controlling unwanted finger flexion and extension,for a beginner string musician, is unaided repetitive play combined withmanual and mental dexterity. Basketball athletes use tape. The beginnerstring musician may experience frustration and cease future play duringthe early stages of instrument learning upon repetitive and unwantedstring strumming by an incorrectly aligned finger. The tape tears afterpersistent activity and the athlete may not replace because ofinconvenience.

Hand and wrist wrap, multi-loop finger band, shock absorber element andfinger exerciser device are known to the art, but none of these is welladapted for covering the proximal phalanx and interphalangeal (PIP)knuckle and part of the middle phalanx of solely two fingers torestrict, both fingers during flexion and extension with a strip ofelastomeric material.

Hand and wrist wrap, multi-loop finger band and finger exerciser areshown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,105 to Barlow, U.S. Des. Pat. No. US D467,828 S to Jones and U.S. Des. Pat. Des. 416,594 to Sardina respectively.This hand and wrist wrap, multi-loop finger band and finger exerciser donot cover the proximal phalanx and interphalangeal (PIP) knuckle andpart of the middle phalanx of solely two fingers to restrict bothfingers during flexion and extension. These references are not usablefor restricting solely two fingers during recreational activities.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,046 to Martin discloses protection of one or morefingers which are engaging a tool from experiencing a shock load whenthe tool experiences an impact load. The absorber may be two blocks ofresilient material, such as synthetic or, rubber. It may be surroundedby a thin flexible casing formed, for example, of a woven fabric. Theinterconnector may consist of two or more thin elongated strips. Shockabsorber elements of this type and its block pads of resilient, materialare not usable to restrict, solely two fingers during flexion andextension in recreational string instrument and basketball playing.

None of the known references discloses or suggests a convenient wrap forcovering the proximal phalanx and interphalangeal (PIP) knuckle and partof the middle phalanx of solely two fingers during flexion andextension, so as to improve on the conventional unaided repetitive playcombined with manual and mental dexterity for the beginner stringmusician or the buddy-taping for the basketball athlete.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention offers a successful alternative to theconventional unaided repetitive play combined with manual and mentaldexterity for the beginner string musician and the buddy-taping for thebasketball athlete while healing two sprained fingers. It providescomfortable and convenient restriction of solely two fingers duringrecreational activity, while allowing active range of motion of thehand.

To accomplish this, a dual finger elastomeric wrap comprises of a stripof elastomeric fabric with instructional text and directional graphicssilk screened onto it. Two opposing strips of hook-and-loop fabric closethe wrap. Buttonhole and straight stitching techniques is used to secureand finish fabric. To form the wrap: First, face the palm upward,second, insert the ring or middle (plus index for right hand) fingerinto the anchor loop section, third, wrap the elongated section overthen under the adjacent left finger, fourth, of one of the two affixedopposing hook-and-loop fabric strips on the elongated section with theother hook-and-loop fabric strip on the anchor loop section to fasten.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a ¾ perspective of the dual finger elastomeric wrap withopposing hook-and-loop fabric strips, straight stitching to secure andfinish the anchor loop, with instructional text and directional graphicssilk screened on said loop and loosened elongated section;

FIG. 1A is an enlarged ¾ perspective of the present dual fingerelastomeric wrap with the elongated section end finished with thebuttonhole stitch technique;

FIG. 2 is a front/back plan of the dual finger elastomeric wrap withopposing hook-and-loop fabric strips, the anchor loop and loosenedelongated section;

FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the dual finger elastomeric wrap with theanchor loop and loosened elongated section;

FIG. 4 is a side plan view of the dual finger elastomeric wrap with theanchor loop and loosened elongated section;

FIG. 5 is a top plan of the dual finger elastomeric wrap with opposinghook-and-loop fabric strips, straight stitching to secure and finish theanchor loop, elongated section end finished with the buttonhole stitchtechnique, with instructional text and directional graphics silkscreened on said loop and loosened elongated section;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan of the dual finger elastomeric wrap with theelongated section end finished with the buttonhole stitch technique,with anchor loop and straight stitching to secure and finish one of thetwo opposing hook-and-loop fabric strips to the loosened elongatedsection;

FIG. 7 is a palm-down pictorial view illustrating the dual fingerelastomeric wrap applied on the right hand and covering the proximalphalanx and interphalangeal (PIP) knuckle and part of the middle phalanxof the ring and middle fingers;

FIG. 8A is a palm-up pictorial view illustrating the dual fingerelastomeric wrap applied on the left hand and covering the proximalphalanx and interphalangeal (PIP) knuckle and part of the middle phalanxof the ring and middle fingers; and

FIG. 8B is a palm-down pictorial view illustrating the dual fingerelastomeric wrap applied on the left hand and covering the proximalphalanx and interphalangeal (PIP) knuckle and part of the middle phalanxof the ring and middle fingers.

The above detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dual finger elastomeric wrap, comprising:elastomeric fabric, hook-and-loop fasteners, stitching and silk screenprint.
 2. The dual finger elastomeric wrap as claimed by claim 1 whereinthe elastomeric fabric is a strip.
 3. The dual finger elastomeric wrapas claimed by claim 1 wherein the fasteners are two strips of opposinghook-and-loop fabric and wherein the fasteners is affixed onto oppositeside surfaces of the elastomeric fabric.
 4. A dual finger elastomericwrap as claimed by claim 1 wherein the one fastener is affixed onto theanchor loop section of the wrap and the other is affixed onto theelongated section of the wrap.
 5. The dual finger elastomeric wrap asclaimed by claim 1 wherein the end of the elongated section of the wrapis finished with the buttonhole stitch technique.
 6. The dual fingerelastomeric wrap as claimed by claim 1 wherein an anchor loop is formedwith an end of the wrap folded back onto itself, secured and finishedwith the straight stitch technique to form a 360 degree vertical loop.7. A dual finger elastomeric wrap as claimed by claim 1 whereininstructional text and directional graphics is silk screen printed ontothe wrap within the anchor loop and elongated sections.
 8. The dualfinger elastomeric wrap as claimed by claim 1 wherein the contracteddiameter of the anchor loop section is between 0.459″ and 0.97″.
 9. Thedual finger elastomeric wrap as claimed by claim 1 wherein the elongatedsection is looped around the adjacent left finger.
 10. The dual fingerelastomeric wrap as claimed by claim 1 wherein the wrap is formed by:First, facing the palm upward, second, inserting the ring or middle(plus index for right hand) finger into the anchor loop section, third,wrapping the elongated section over then under the adjacent left finger,fourth, joining one of the two affixed opposing hook-and-loop fabricstrips on the elongated section with the other hook-and-loop fabricstrip on the anchor loop section to fasten.
 11. The dual fingerelastomeric wrap claimed in claim 1 wherein said wrap covers proximalphalanx and interphalangeal (PIP) knuckle and part of the middle phalanxof two fingers.
 12. A dual finger elastomeric wrap as in claim 1 whereinsaid wrap expands and conforms to the shape of two fingers.